Nashville, Tennessee --- Governor Phil Bredesen signed Executive Orders No. 36 and No. 37 today, transferring responsibilities for Title and Registration and the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy from the Department of Safety to other state departments to help streamline the responsibilities of the Department of Safety.

"With these executive orders in place, we now have the ability to implement key changes I outlined last month to improve and streamline processes within the Department of Safety's management," said Bredesen. "These changes will improve the efficiency and coordination of these important state functions and help us to move another step closer to our goal of reforming the Department of Safety and removing politics from the Tennessee Highway Patrol."

Executive Order No. 36 transfers the Division of Title and Registration and its related functions from the Department of Safety to the Department of Revenue. The order calls for the transfer to be effective July 1, 2006, with all functions relating to the Division of Title and Registration to be administered by the Commissioner of Revenue from that date forward.

Executive Order No. 37 transfers jurisdiction over the Jerry F. Agee Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy from the Department of Safety to the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The transfer will be effective July 1, 2006.

Executive Orders No. 36 and No. 37 implement recommendations outlined by Bredesen last month following a report he commissioned by Kroll Inc. to suggest changes at the Department of Safety. The report was part of a sweeping review of policies and practices with a goal of ending decades of politics in the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

On March 20, Bredesen announced his intent to implement three broad recommendations based on the Kroll report and proposed by Interim Commissioner of Safety Gerald Nicely. The recommendations called for the creation of a fair and transparent hiring and promotion process, the institution of nationally-recognized professional standards, and the improvement and streamlining of all other processes within the department's management, including the changes announced today.

Copies of Executive Orders No. 36 and No. 37 are available on Governor Bredesen's Web site at: http://www.tn.gov/governor/viewExecutiveOrders.do

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.